More Vienna choir boys allege abuse

18/03/2010 | 05:58 AM

The Vienna Boys' Choir said on Wednesday it has heard from eight possible abuse victims following an initial report of allegations last week.

The famed institution said the men range in age from about 40 to over 70 and contacted the choir through a confidential phone and email hotline set up on Friday after a local newspaper reported that two former members, both now adults, recalled incidents of sexual abuse and "merciless discipline."

Tina Breckwoldt, who is responsible for the hotline, declined to disclose whether the eight abuse allegations are sexual, physical or psychological in nature and whether the alleged perpetrators were adults or other choir members.

"No one can undo injustice," the choir said. "At the moment, listening is most important."

The Vienna Boys' Choir is not church-affiliated. Many boys live in dormitories while singing away from their families. They also travel frequently.

The choir said on its website that it was taking the allegations very seriously. In an open letter to parents, choir members, staff and alumni dated March 12 it said that "this kind of abuse, even if it took place in the past, constitutes an injustice that we deeply regret and that must and want to face".

The allegations coincide with an ongoing string of abuse claims against members of Austria's Catholic church.

In last week's article by the Der Standard newspaper, a 33-year-old who now lives in Berlin was cited as saying he and others were pressured to thoroughly wash their genitals in the shower while supervisors watched. He also said an older choir member forced him to perform oral sex at one point while he was a member of the choir from 1985 to 1987.

Another member, described as a 51-year-old psychologist living in Munich who sang with the group between 1966 and 1970, said a choir master rested his hand on his thigh for an hour while on a bus tour.

Both men recalled sexual and violent assaults by educators or older students on nine- to 14-year-olds, Der Standard reported.

Meanwhile, an eastern Swiss diocese says a priest has resigned after admitting to sexually abusing children in the 1970s.

The Chur diocese says it approached the priest after being contacted by a victim on Monday. It said the priest also acknowledged abuses in parts of neighbouring Austria and Germany that belong to the same diocese, and has reported himself to local police.

The statement on Wednesday didn't specify how many cases of abuse were involved.

The Swiss Bishops Conference says there have been 60 alleged victims of abuse by Catholic priests in Switzerland in the past 15 years.

The admission comes amid numerous reports of abuse by Catholic clergy or church employees in Europe.